Let's Review
Your Progress
by
Samantha Roehrig
We're at the
first quarter checkpoint for your 2004 fitness
goals. How you doing? Are those New Year's
resolutions still in place or long forgotten? Let's
take a few minutes to review your progress -- good
or bad -- and look ahead to taking the next step.
Scenario One: You've taken the ball and ran
with it! Outstanding! You started 2004 with a strong
commitment to sticking to those New Years
resolutions. Whether it was losing 10 pounds or
sticking to a weekly exercise schedule, you've made
your best effort and you're feeling the momentum of
positive results. Now it's time to take it to the
next level. Look back at beginning of the year -
what originally motivated you to make changes?
Reconnect with those feelings and give them a boost
by raising the bar with new goals.
An effective strategy is to add variety to your
fitness routine. Sticking to the same schedule and
activity week after week can cause your body to
adapt to your workouts, which will lower your
progression and results over time. Plus, the same
old routine can get boring and drop your motivation.
Mixing it up will boost your energy and your
results. For example, join a new exercise class,
pickup a new sport (maybe running, swimming or
cycling), or hire a trainer to teach you a few new
strength training routines. If you're really
rolling, setting your sights on 5K, 10K, triathlon
or other event, may just provide you with the
motivational kick to get you to the next level.
Scenario Two: You're not where you want to
be. Yes, you started the year with new wellness
goals, but you didn't hit the mark. Maybe it was too
much going on with the kids, deadlines at work, an
illness, or maybe you just set your goals too high.
Whatever your reasons, let's forget about it and
move on. Set new, attainable goals. Start small,
experience success and build momentum. You can do
it!
If you're not exercising, let's start with the
basics. The American College of Sports Medicine and
the Center for Disease Control recommend, for
health, that adults should accumulate 30 minutes of
moderate-intensity physical activity on most days of
the week. Keep this in mind when setting your goals.
Let's focus on building a healthy lifestyle that
includes regular exercise.
A long-term commitment to being physically fit is an
incredible gift to give yourself. You'll relieve
stress, sleep better, boost energy, feel great,
improve your health and set a great example for your
kids. Periodically reconnect with your goals and
motivations to keep your workouts fun and focused.
This is effective strategy for building a fitness
plan that prevents motivational lags and helps you
continually strive for achieving your personal best.
If you have questions about how to take your fitness
to the next level, let me know!
Samantha Roehrig
samantha@optimomfitness.com
Mom to Reese (5) and Laine (2), Samantha enjoys
triathlon training, hiking, and healthy cooking, and
she is the founder of Optimom Fitness.
Optimom Fitness
Because Motherhood Is An Endurance Sport
